The Taleef Shereef; Or, Indian Materia Medica

The medical knowledge represented in this book is several centuries old. The publication of this book is for historical interest only, and is not to be construed as medical advice by Project Gutenberg or its volunteers. Medicinal plants should not be used without consulting a trained medical professional. Medical science has made considerable progress since this book was written. Recommendations or prescriptions have been superseded by better alternatives, or invalidated altogether. This book contains a number of prescriptions that are very dangerous.

THE TALEEF SHEREEF,
OR INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA;
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL. BY GEORGE PLAYFAIR, Esq. SUPERINTENDING SURGEON, BENGAL SERVICE.
PUBLISHED BY The Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta. Calcutta: PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD. SOLD BY MESSRS. THACKER & CO. CALCUTTA; & BY MESSRS. PARBURY, ALLEN & CO. 1833.


In the course of a practice of upwards of twenty-six years in India, I have often had occasion to regret, that I had no publication to guide me, in my wish to become acquainted with the properties of native medicines, which I had frequently seen, in the hands of the Physicians of Hindoostan, productive of the most beneficial effects in many diseases, for the cure of which our Pharmacopeia supplied no adequate remedy; and the few which I had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with, so far exceeded my expectations, that I determined to make a Translation of the present work, for my own gratification and future guidance.
Having finished the translation, I became convinced, that I should not have fulfilled the whole of my duty if I did not make it public; and ill calculated as I know myself for such an undertaking, I have ventured to offer it to the world, with all its imperfections.
Conscious, that the liberal minded will give me credit for the best of motives, I shall not dread criticism; and if it has the effect of inducing those more competent to the task to an inquiry into the properties of native medicines, my views will have been fully accomplished.